shooting near or over footpaths

[gundogbob 1]

hi guys

me and my father went pigeon shooting yesterday met the farmer who showed the fieald he wanted us to shoot plenty pigeons it looked like being a good day we got set up half an hour later me dad rang me to say that two people were

saying that he was to close to the foot path that runs through the middle of the fieald and they had called the police so i went up to him and after waiting 45 minuits expecting armed response and chopper one police officer appered and asked us if these people was giving us eny problems we said no she then asked if my father would mind moving abit to avoid eny problems she spoke to these greasy yob like guys and then went on her way then the yobbos started shouting abuse saying that they had won and that we would not shoot eny thing they would make sure of that so we packed up and went home.

 

sorry this is so long but iwas woundering if eny one knows the law on footpaths as i was led to belive that you just had to be vigelernt at all times and if eny one is on the foot path just stop shooting show your self and proceed when clear to do so

 

eny help on this would be greatfull

many thanks

[mushroom 13,391]

Perfectly legal as long as you cause no inconvenience to passing public, ie. cause injury or damage, prevent the public from passing safely this applies to public vehicles of all description aswell. All this is applicable if you are closer than 50 foot of the center of the highway/public path/bridleway

 

 

This is the actual legal wording

 

 

In Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 it states: It is an offence without lawful authority or excuse to light a fire, or discharge any firearm or firework within 50 feet of the centre of any highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway, and if in consequence any user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered that person is liable to a fine.

[drwolly 8]

carriage way relates to bridlepath or road that have "passage way of vehicles" and is funded by the highways agency, you can shoot from and not up or down a footpath so long as not to cause distress or injury to the public (as longs as there is no one on the footpath see attached pdf.

[masmiffy 82]

told by my game dealer mate that you can close a footpath for 'ermin control' not sure if it right or not tho!

[Tug 168]

told by my game dealer mate that you can close a footpath for 'ermin control' not sure if it right or not tho!

You need an order from releveant local authority to close a footpath (Footpath Closure Order), pest control would be unlikely to get classed as a legitimate reason.